Chain link fence with slat inserts



8, 1956 w. c. RICE 2,760,759

CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH SLAT INSERTS Filed April 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. Winston 6. Rice,

ATTORNE Aug. 28, 1956 w. c. RICE 2,760,759

CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH SLAT INSERTS Filed April 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. Winston 6. Rice,

ATTOR/VE.

CHAIN LINK FENCE WITH SLAT INSERTS Winston C. Rice, Shreveport, La.

Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,642

10 Claims. (Cl. 256-34) The present invention is directed to an improved wire fence. More particularly, the invention is directed to a method and apparatus in which a chain link wire fence is converted to a fence providing privacy. In its more specific aspects, the invention is directed to a wall comprised of a wire fence and structural members.

The present invention may be briefly described as a fence providing both privacy and protection which comprises a chain link wire fabric rigidly or firmly fixed or connected to upright posts and having a horizontal bracing member extending from one post to another adjacent the top edge of the fabric. Slats are arranged, inserted or interwoven in the fabric and extend from the top edge to the bottom edge of said fabric adjacent the ground. A horizontal supporting member is inserted or interwoven in the fabric adjacent the lower edge of the fabric to provide a support for the lower end of the slats.

The chain link wire fence may be supported suitably on metallic posts secured in the ground in cement and may have a horizontal member adjacent the top edge of the fabric. The fabric is of the usual chain link type with diamond-shaped openings formed by interweaving the wire to form chain links. These openings are adjacent such that one is immediately above the other and slats may be inserted and/or interwoven in the openings either in a vertical or diagonal position. The openings are of sufiicient size that the slats may be arranged, inserted and/or interwoven in one opening beginning at the top of the fabric and another slat arranged, inserted and/ or interwoven in an adjacent opening and occupy the next lower diamond-shaped opening in the fabric.

The invention also contemplates a method for converting a chain link wire fence to a vision-obstructing wall to insure privacy which comprises inserting and/ or interweaving flexible strips in the openings in said chain link wire fence to fill substantially completely said openings and then supporting said strips on the lower end of said strips.

It is contemplated that the slats may be constructed of material such as flexible wood slats and the slats may be of a size slightly less than approximately one-half the width of the diamond-shaped openings so that two of said slats may be arranged and/or interwoven in a single diamond-shaped opening. It is to be understood that other types of slats may be used and flexibility is not required in all instances.

The invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a view with parts broken away showing the conversion of a chain link wire fence to a vision-obstructing wall;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section looking downward on Fig. 1 showing the insertion of slats in the chain links;

Fig. 3 is a view with parts broken away similar to Fig. 1 showing slats arranged on the bias or on the diagonal;

Fig. 4 illustrates a fence with parts broken away in accordance with the invention of extended height; and

nite States atent 41 and it is desired to fill this space.

Fig. 5 is a view with parts broken away of another fence in accordance with my invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, numeral 11 designates generally a chain link wire fence composed of a wire fabric 12 defining diamond-shaped openings 13. The upper and lower ends of the fabric are formed by twisting the ends of the wire 14 together to form the twists or barbs 15. The fabric 12 is secured to the fence posts 16 which are arranged in the ground 17 and preferably cemented in place with cement 18. A horizontal supporting member 19 runs from one post 16 to another to provide rigidity to the structure.

In accordance with the present invention the chain link fence 11 is converted to a wall insuring privacy by inserting a plurality of slats or strips 20 into the openings 13. By inserting or arranging and/or interweaving the slats 20 in the openings 13, it is possible to fill substantially completely the openings 13 and to provide a wall which will secure privacy within a yard or enclosure as desired.

The slats 20 are threaded, inserted, or interwoven in the openings 13 and may extend from the top 21 of the fabric 12 to a point adjacent the bottom 22.

Horizontally interwoven or inserted in the fabric 12 is a horizontal slat or strip 23 which serves as a supporting member for the vertical slats 2t) and providing a pleasing, finished appearance to the converted fence.

The top edges of the slats 20 serve to conceal the barbs or twists 15 and present a smooth effect.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the openings 13 in the fabric 12 are substantially completely filled with slats 30 which are arranged on the bias or diagonally to fill substantially completely the openings 13. In this particular instance, the upper and lower ends 31 and 32 of the slats 30 are cut to make a smooth fit with the upper end 21 of the fence and lower end 22. It will be seen that the lower end 31 is arranged to be supported on the horizontal slat member 23 which is arranged or interwoven in the lower end of the fabric 12.

Referring now to Figs. 4, slats 40 are vertically inserted or arranged in the openings 13 similar to the slats 211 in Fig. 1. In this particular instance, the slats 40 have a length of greater height than the height of the fence 11 and serve to extend the height of the fence 11 besides providing a wall or fence affording privacy as well as protection. Like in Fig. 1, the slats 41) will rest or be supported on a horizontal slat 23 interwoven or inserted in the openings 13. In this particular instance, slats 4d of extended length will be provided with a horizontal rigid connecting member 41 which will serve to give rigidity to the upper section of the fence of extended height. it is understood, of course, that like in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the height of the fence may be extended by employing slats arranged on the bias or interwoven diagonally.

Referring now to Fig. 5 a shield or chain link wire fence structure, such as 40, is comprised of a wire fabric 41 defining diamond-shaped openings 42. The upper and lower ends of the fabric are formed by twisting the Wire 43 to form the twists or barbs 44. The fabric 41 is secured to posts 45 which are mounted on or secured to supporting member 46 which may be the ground or a supporting structure, such as a building. It will be seen that a space such as 47 is not covered by the fabric In accordance with my invention, space 47 is filled to form a wall 48 by inserting or arranging in the openings 42 a plurality of elongated slats or strips 49 having a length greater than the width of the fabric 41 to extend to support member 46 and close the space 47. The slats 49 may suitably be supported by a horizontal member 50 arranged between posts 45. A horizontal member 51 runs from one post 45 to another to give rigidity to the structure.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, taken with the drawing, that the present invention is of considerable utility in that it provides a fence or wall with both privacy and protection. Furthermore, it is possible to convert a fence of the cyclone or chain link type to a wall insuring privacy without difiiculty. Thus the fence, after setting of the posts and fabric, may be easily assembled with minor expenditure of capital and effort. The improved wall or fence of the present invention is of pleasing appearance and covers and thus eliminates the unsightly barbs or twists at the upper and lower ends of the fence. Furthermore, the improved wall or fence is sturdy and easily constructed and considerably less expensive than a brick wall or one constructed of other masonry. The fence or wall constructed of the interwoven slats may be suitably painted to provide a decorative structure. If desired, the wood slats may be treated with a suitable preservative for resistance against attack by fungi or insects.

As an example of the present invention, a chain link fence, as described hereinbefore, was converted to a wall insuring privacy by placing cypress wooden slats of 1% inches by 4 inch dimensions by 4 feet and 8 inches (length) in the openings as illustrated. About 100 feet of the fence was converted to a private wall in about 8 hours.

Although I have described my invention with a specific 9 example and by using cypress wooden slats or strips of a specific size, it is to be understood that the height of the fence may vary, as desired, and that the openings in the fabric may be of any size and shape so long as the slats may be arranged, interwoven or inserted therein.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that it is unnecessary for the fence or wall to extend completely to the ground since under some circumstances it may be desirable to provide a shield which does not extend completely to the ground or to a supporting structure.

Also the present invention contemplates that where a fence structure is used as a shield which does not extend completely to the ground or a supporting structure, that the opening between the fabric and the ground or structure to which the shield is attached may be filled by extending the slats from the fabric to the ground or supporting structure.

It is to be seen from the foregoing description of the invention that the fence may be converted to a wall without employing nails and the like connecting means. In other words, the wire fabric or chain link fence acts to give support and strength to the slats arranged and/ or interwoven in the openings in the chain link fence.

The slats or strips employed in the present invention may be constructed of other materials besides wood so long as they may be readily interwoven or inserted in the wire wabric. The wire fabric, however, is substantially non-deformable and flexibility is required for the slats or strips only when the slats or strips are on the diagonal. The openings in the fabric are formed with the wire defining openings which have both vertical and horizontal dimensions, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and thus the slats or strips may be rigid when the slats or strips are inserted in the openings vertically since there is sufficient clearance therefor without necessarily interweaving the slats by bending.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what I wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fence providing both privacy and protection which comprises, in combination, a wire fabric rigidly afiixed to upright members and stretching therebetween defining groups of longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal openings, slats arranged in one of said groups of openings other than the longitudinal openings and extending from the top of said fabric to adjacent the bottom of said fabric, and a slat arranged in said longitudinal openings in said fabric adjacent the bottom of said fabric to support said slats, the lower ends of said slats extending to the longitudinal slat.

2. A fence in accordance with claim 1 in which the slats are arranged in the transverse openings in said fabric.

3. A fence in accordance with claim 1 in which the slats are arranged in the diagonal openings in said fabric.

4. A fence providing both privacy and protection which comprises, in combination, a wire fabric rigidly affixed to upright members and stretching therebetween defining groups of longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal openings, a plurality of slats arranged in said transverse openings and extending from the top of said fabric to adjacent the bottom of said fabric, and a slat arranged in said longitudinal openings in said fabric adjacent the bottom of said fabric to support said slats, the lower ends of said plurality of slats extending to the longitudinal slat.

5. A fence providing both privacy and protection which comprises, in combination, a wire fabric rigidly afiixed to fence posts arranged in the ground and defining groups of longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal openings, a plurality of flexible wooden slats arranged in said transverse openings of a size sufficient for two of said slats to fill substantially one of said openings extending from the top to adjacent the bottom of said fabric, and a wooden slat arranged in said longitudinal openings in said fabric adjacent the bottom of said fabric the lower ends of said plurality of slats extending to the longitudinal slat.

6. A fence in accordance with claim 5 in which the wire fabric is substantially non-deformable.

7. A fence providing both privacy and protection which comprises, in combination, a chain link wire fabric having groups of longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal openings rigidly connected to upright ports and having a horizontal bracing member between said posts adjacent the top edge of said fabric, slats arranged in one of said groups of openings other than the longitudinal openings to fill substantially said one group of openings and to provide a vision-obscuring wall and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of said fabric adjacent the ground, and a slat arranged in said longitudinal openings adjacent the lower edge of said fabric, the lower ends of said slats extending to the longitudinal slat.

8. A fence in accordance with claim 7 in which the slats are arranged in said transverse openings.

9. A fence in accordance with claim 7 in which the slats are arranged in said diagonal openings.

10. A fence providing both privacy and protection which comprises, in combination, a chain link substantially non-deformable wire fabric having groups of longitudinal, transverse, and diagonal openings rigidly connected to upright posts and having a horizontal bracing member between said posts adjacent the top edge of said fabric, substantially rigid wooden slats arranged in said transverse openings to fill substantially said transverse openings and to provide a vision-obscuring wall and extending from the top edge to the bottom edge of said fabric adjacent to the ground, said slats being of a size less than approximately one-half the width of said transverse openings such that two of said slats are arranged in said transverse openings, and a slat adjacent the lower edge of and interwoven in said longitudinal openings in said fabric, the lower ends of said slats extending to the longitudinal slat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 228,818 Baird Mar. 30, 1886 397,511 Mishler Feb. 12, 1889 1,058,274 Tirapani Apr. 8, 1913 1,623,873 Jackson Apr. 5, 1927 1,987,312 Ruppel Jan. 8, 1935 2,599,967 Zimel June 10, 1952 

